Paying for content on the Internet is getting easier, thanks to the folks in Redmond.

Dubbed the Digital Broadcast Manager, the new software system enables websites to quickly become e-commerce sites. The program will help companies covert digital media into secure, saleable product, create a store front, and manage and track sales.

Napster's Cousins Go Legit
Hear how MP3 Rocks the Web
Listen to a discussion of this story.
Napster: Music's Friend or Foe?

The manager runs with Windows2000. Once it's loaded up, you type in the business rules you want to employ –- price, date available, and the like -- and your digital media is ready to become a valued product. Over 25 companies have announced their intention to use the system, including the House of Blues and NASCAR.

"We are starting to see the movement in digital media progressing away from just being a promotional vehicle to being an e-commerce vehicle," said Dave Fester, general manager for marketing for the digital media division at Microsoft.

"A lot of the content being offered by the House of Blues and the WWF is pretty attractive. The net effect of this package is that any company like this can now turn their website pretty rapidly into a digital media solution."

The software retails for $495, with a 10 cent usage fee tacked on for each transaction completed. Anyplace with digital media can be turned into an e-commerce site.

"The cost of entry into e-commerce is very high," Fester said. "Now you can get up and running with e-commerce within a day."

---

Mood Sing: The folks at MoodLogic launched the first Internet-enabled music browser for the un-hip and average music consumer.

Users request music styles they want to hear -– pop music from the early '80s, with female vocals for instance -– and the browser then serves up a 30-second sound clips. Listeners are then afforded the opportunity to either skip or purchase the song.

"Consumers have had no easy way to discover new music that they like," said MoodLogic CEO Tom Sulzer in a written statement. "When integrated into shopping and sales sites our browser invites listeners to explore the music universe in intuitive ways."

The MoodLogic browser contains over 250,000 songs, including most of the Billboard Top 40 since 1960. Each of the songs have been classified by over 20,000 consumers and hundreds of music specialists.

---

Sweatin' to MP3.com: Now that MP3.com has made nice with the major music labels, it's time for the company to get lean and mean while figuring out how to create revenue streams.

The latest plan involves syndicating music from the website to XYSTOS Media Network, which will install 15,000 touch-screen terminals in 400 fitness clubs worldwide.

Also on tap is The Children's Channel, which offers up fairly tales, nursery rhymes, and songs for $9.99 a month. This is the second of what CEO Michael Robertson hopes will be a series of channels targeted at niche markets.

And not to be outdone by upstart MusicBank, MP3.com -- the company that landed a licensing deal with BMG allowing the music company to stream major-label music in the same manner as the my.mp3.com service -- is moving into the retail environment.

Customers who purchase music from any Djangos retail store now have the option of moving that music directly into their personal music jukebox.

---

Streamed Apple: RealNetworks joins with Apple to create streaming video and audio in the QuickTime format.

Real also announced that its recently released RealServer8 system will support the delivery of Apple's content to its QuickTime player.

The two have promised to play nice, agreeing to abide by the "Ask, Tell, Help" initiative which promises that the companies won't design players that automatically change default media players without asking the user.

---

Oh Baby, Baby: Teen Queen Britney Spears jumped into the stock-for-hire game, signing a deal with Generation Y website YOUtopia.com.

Spears is slated to help shape content and promotions for the site, which will include interactive site guides, online parties, and live chats.

---

It's the Classics, Stupid: MP3.com has a classical music channel, but nothing to compare with the 66 symphony orchestras, opera, and ballet companies that are turning to the Internet to promote and sell their performances.

No word yet on how these folks are going to make money –- the live performances will be streamed for free -– but with most operating without label contracts they don't have a lot to lose.

---

Mars Needs Metallica: It's official. Lars and the boys from Metallica are looking to Mars to sponsor their Summer Sanitarium Tour.

Online retailer Marsmusic.com – which operates kiosks in 37 retail stores in 19 states -- will offer promotional ticket give-aways, onsite radio broadcasts, and live chats with the band. On July 14, the company will also host an exclusive webcast of the band's San Francisco concert.

Makes you wonder if Napster is from Venus.